I intend to haul out and service my 27 in the spring. I wonder whether I should replace the plastic through hulls with bronze. I understand that a plastic called Macrolon ( I think thats right)is o.k. but others are not. Does anyone know what sort of plastic was used in 1981? Anyone had a problem with these plastic fittings? As a contractor I am used to using plastic in plumbing and have always found it to be a good material and it seems that the fact that it never corrodes should be plus on a boat!
Through hulls
- Thread starter Tim Cook
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Marelon is the name
Marelon is the name of the plastic through hull material that should be used on boats. Very tough stuff.
Marelon is the name of the plastic through hull material that should be used on boats. Very tough stuff.
Replace them with bronze or marelon
This is a known issue with the older Cat 27. Go to the association website to find a list of other issues. (other main ones are keel bolts and chainplates) http://www.catalina27.org. The factory installed very cheap gate valves that were glassed directly into the hull. There actually was no thru-hull fitting. The through hull is the mushroom shaped fitting that clamps a connector pipe to the hull. A ball valve is then attached to this connector. Your plastic plumbing will lead off the valve. Here's a better explanation. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/seacocks.htm Look at your system carefully to determine if the previous owner has already installed a properly mounted, mushroom shaped through hull. There should be a backing plate against the hull with a flange mounted on it, allowing the mushroom's extension to protrude and be bolted down. A separate ball valve should be attached to the extension. If you have this but can't tell if it is marelon or hard plastic, change it. If there is just a pipe with a valve on it, change it to a proper system. this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/31577/10001/217/70/11 or this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/17318/10001/217/70/11 While you have your boat in the yard you might ask the yardmaster to give you his opinion if you're not sure.
This is a known issue with the older Cat 27. Go to the association website to find a list of other issues. (other main ones are keel bolts and chainplates) http://www.catalina27.org. The factory installed very cheap gate valves that were glassed directly into the hull. There actually was no thru-hull fitting. The through hull is the mushroom shaped fitting that clamps a connector pipe to the hull. A ball valve is then attached to this connector. Your plastic plumbing will lead off the valve. Here's a better explanation. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/seacocks.htm Look at your system carefully to determine if the previous owner has already installed a properly mounted, mushroom shaped through hull. There should be a backing plate against the hull with a flange mounted on it, allowing the mushroom's extension to protrude and be bolted down. A separate ball valve should be attached to the extension. If you have this but can't tell if it is marelon or hard plastic, change it. If there is just a pipe with a valve on it, change it to a proper system. this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/31577/10001/217/70/11 or this: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/17318/10001/217/70/11 While you have your boat in the yard you might ask the yardmaster to give you his opinion if you're not sure.
27' Thru Hulls
Thanks Joe from mission bay, I took a proper look instead of relying on hearsay and found all the thru- hulls had been replaced with bronze! I am in mission bay too, by the way. What a great forum this is!
Thanks Joe from mission bay, I took a proper look instead of relying on hearsay and found all the thru- hulls had been replaced with bronze! I am in mission bay too, by the way. What a great forum this is!
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